Should you be worried about NAPLAN?
It is NAPLAN time again this year. In the second full week in May, students in Australian public and private schools, in grades 3, 5, 7 and 9, do NAPLAN. They are tested over three days. NAPLAN tests...
View Article7 tips to put the ‘mmm’ into family mealtime
Ferrying the children to after-school activities, keeping up with busy social schedules and a hectic workload – modern lives have a tendency to be extremely busy. And for many families, sitting down...
View ArticleFlying with kids or babies – a hubber’s guide
Preparing for a flight is stressful at the best of times. But when you’ve got small children or babies it becomes all that much harder. Flying with babies or young children is not easy and it is...
View ArticleWhy kids’ play needs to be unstructured and unhurried
I love the words that poet Wallace Stevens wrote about the imagination: “The imagination is the power of the mind over the possibilities of things.” To me, imagining possibilities is at the heart of...
View Article12 ideas for storing your child’s artwork
Welcome to this post about storing your children’s artwork. Yes, the little darlings are prolific, and they may show the makings of a Picasso of the future. However in the meantime what do we do with...
View ArticlePass the Parcel – is it OK to disappoint?
I’m in the midst of birthday parties at the moment. Every weekend is a haze of cake, bouncy castles, presents and party games as many of the children I know, including one of mine, become a year older....
View Article9 ways to encourage a reluctant reader
Has there ever been a better time to be a young book lover? The diversity and volume of children’s books is staggering. There is something in print for every reading level and every possible interest,...
View ArticleHow to give hope to a child grieving
Grief. Sadness. Loss.These are heavy emotions to be burdened with. As an adult, we know that grief is an emotion and we know there are the five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression...
View Article25 awesome Aussie picture books for children
There are so many brilliant picture books for children but I especially love reading Australian books to my three. We have an amazing amount of talented authors and incredible illustrators here in...
View Article8 steps to stress-free family mealtimes
Mealtimes. Aren’t they wonderful? Children helping set the table. A family chatting and eating. A parent watching with pride as their children savour every mouthful of the delicious and nutritious meal...
View ArticleAussie parents waste millions on ineffective medicines
When your child is sick you’ll do anything to help them feel better. And when they’re coughing all night, for weeks on end, it is only natural to search for something that will help them get a good...
View Article6 tricks for an awesome road trip with kids
Listening to the same Peppa Pig episode over and over again. Stopping by the side of the road for an urgent pee just five minutes after you last stopped by the side of the road for an urgent pee....
View ArticleTalking to children about sex – an age-appropriate guide
Sex education is one of those things we know we need to do but we aren’t quite sure what we are supposed to talk about. What exactly are we supposed to talk about and when? Here is a quick guide to...
View ArticleThis is why it’s important for kids to be bored
These days, kids are used to being entertained every waking moment with the help of a range of modern technology, from in-car DVD players and iPads to video games. Boredom is nothing new but with...
View Article5 ways to teach kids about nature this spring
I am so excited about spring – I can’t wait to get out there in the sun, soak up some Vitamin D and enjoy the brighter side of Mother Nature. Spring is all about the birds and the bees. It’s such an...
View Article‘Self-esteem and confidence is important, but we’ve gone overboard’
What has happened in the past 20 years or so that has led us to a state of such an over-inflated and inappropriate sense of entitlement, particularly regarding our children? We are now more obsessed...
View ArticleParents … are you an asker or teller?
The way you communicate with your kids is vital to being a successful parent and will have a vast impact on the skills they develop over the years. Asking better questions is a skill rarely taught in...
View ArticleThe ultimate guide to baby and child car seats
In Australia, by law, all children up to the age of seven years should be seated in a suitable infant or child car restraint when travelling in a car. But child safety is more than just following the...
View Article4 ways to boost your kids’ creative thinking
As a devoted parent, you only want what’s best for your children: you want them to be happy, healthy, kind and generous. You know how creative kids are: give them some space and the right things and...
View Article5 practical ways to prepare your child for primary school
You think you know what type of parent you will be when your child has their first day at school. You’ll be the one cheering as they sail through the door. You won’t cry, because big deal? They are...
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